Israeli President Isaac Herzog has given opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot the first mandate to form a government. The former Israel Defense Forces chief takes on the task with the threat from Iran still looming over the country.

At Sunday’s ceremony, Herzog called for unity and a “stable government that can last.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who stays in office until a new government is sworn in, responded by warning against any coalition that depends on parties he says oppose Israel’s security.

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From CBN: 

The leader of the Yashar Party insisted, “Firstly, recognition of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state. Secondly, acceptance of the values of the Declaration of Independence. Thirdly, the obligation of service for all – military, national, and civil – to strengthen the IDF and expand its ranks. Fourthly, recognition of Hamas as a terrorist organization and a commitment to dismantling its military and governmental power.”

Journalist Gil Hoffman from Honest Reporting, who covered Israeli elections for years with The Jerusalem Post, observed, “There’s a problem with that, which is that some of the (Arab party) members have views on Israel and Hamas that are very problematic, and you would have to rely on them to vote on very controversial issues on security, not just on issues like fighting crime, poverty. And because of that, his government will not last long.”

“A government dependent on terror supporters will not fight terror,” he asserted, and added, “A government dependent on haters of Judaism will not preserve Israel as a Jewish state. A government dependent on radical Islam will not fight radical Islam. Such a government will not remove the existential threat from Iran.”

Eisenkot has 28 days to complete his mandate. Herzog may grant a 14-day extension. Eisenkot reportedly wants to move quickly. A successful government would remove Netanyahu from office for the first time in four years.

The arithmetic is the challenge. Eisenkot has 48 seats among his Jewish party allies, and the Arab parties won 19 seats in the recent elections. He needs their help to reach the 61-seat threshold. The four conditions he set for partners, including recognition of Hamas as a terrorist organization, may be hard for some of those parties to accept.

Some critics say refusing to serve alongside Arab parties amounts to racism. Former Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren wrote that for Israelis the issue is “not necessarily prejudice but rather, simply, survival.” He asked how Arab politicians who oppose even small-scale IDF action could serve in a government that might have to lead an existential war. The source carries no response from Eisenkot to Netanyahu’s warning, and no comment from any Arab party.

Israel is forming a government while Iran remains a threat and Hamas has not been dismantled. Eisenkot’s own conditions show how basic the question is: a coalition must recognize Hamas as a terrorist organization and commit to ending its power. For Americans who support Israel, this is not a distant parliamentary squabble. A fragile coalition that cannot act decisively on security could weaken the one democratic ally in the region facing existential threats. Whatever the final shape of the government, its first duty is to protect Israeli lives. Proverbs 11:14 says, “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” Pray that President Herzog, Eisenkot and Prime Minister Netanyahu would seek wise counsel and put Israel’s security above political advantage. Pray that whatever government emerges would stand firmly against Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran, and that Israelis of every background would be protected and united. Pray for the IDF soldiers and families bearing the cost of defense, and for America’s leaders to stand with Israel throughout this transition.

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(Excerpt from CBN. Photo Credit: ILIA YEFIMOVICH / Getty Images).